U.S. Senate Approves Farm Bill-Measure Includes Feinstein Provisions to Protect Against Pests, Allow California Sugar Cane Production and Provide Crop Insurance to California Growers

- Measure Includes Feinstein Provisions to Protect Against Pests,
Allow California Sugar Cane Production and Provide Crop Insurance
to California Growers -

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today approved an economic recovery package for America's farmers on a vote of 58-40 to authorize farm and nutrition programs for the next five years.

The legislation also includes provisions supported by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to aid California agriculture by: (1) protecting California farm products from pests smuggled across the border in plants and produce; (2) increasing the number of agricultural jobs in California by allowing the state to join four other states in the growing and production of sugar cane; and (3) creating a new innovative crop insurance program to California growers.

"I am pleased that Senator Boxer and I have worked together to see that California will be able to join Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and Louisiana as a state where sugarcane will be grown and refined," Senator Feinstein said. "This measure will help create jobs in the Imperial Valley and help California farmers to diversify their crops if they choose to do so."

The Fruit, Vegetable, and Plant Smuggling Prevention Act of 2001 -- This legislation sponsored by Senator Feinstein will strengthen criminal penalties for violating plant quarantine laws. The provision will protect agriculture from the invasion of foreign species, and make organized smuggling of fruits, plants, and vegetables into the United States a felony.

Allowing California to Refine and Grow Sugarcane -- This provision will allow California to join Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida as a state with a sugarcane allocation so that growers in the Imperial Valley will be able to grow, refine, and market sugarcane. Imperial Valley growers have been growing cane for about four years with the hopes they will be able to reinvigorate a stagnant industry in the Brawley area. Growers will be able to add sugarcane to the great diversity of crops from California.

Creating An Innovative Crop Insurance Program to California Growers - This provision will allow California growers to qualify for Adjusted Gross Revenue Crop Insurance, a unique risk management tool provided by USDA to give producers a "self-help" option of insuring a potion of their farm income, based upon an average of the last five tax returns. Adjusted Gross Revenue Crop Insurance provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable causes. Currently, specialty crops are not covered by crop insurance, other than catastrophic.

The program was first made available on a pilot basis in 1999. The 2001 crop year was the third year the policy was available and it currently includes seventeen states. This will also now include California.



	U.S. Senate Approves Farm Bill - Measure Includes Feinstein Provisions to Protect Against Pests, Allow California Sugar Cane Production and Provide Crop Insurance to California Growers - Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today approved an economic recovery package for America's farmers on a vote of 58-40 to authorize farm and nutrition programs for the next five years. The legislation also includes provisions supported by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to aid California agriculture by: (1) protecting California farm products from pests smuggled across the border in plants and produce; (2) increasing the number of agricultural jobs in California by allowing the state to join four other states in the growing and production of sugar cane; and (3) creating a new innovative crop insurance program to California growers. "I am pleased that Senator Boxer and I have worked together to see that California will be able to join Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and Louisiana as a state where sugarcane will be grown and refined," Senator Feinstein said. "This measure will help create jobs in the Imperial Valley and help California farmers to diversify their crops if they choose to do so." Specifically, the legislation includes: The Fruit, Vegetable, and Plant Smuggling Prevention Act of 2001 -- This legislation sponsored by Senator Feinstein will strengthen criminal penalties for violating plant quarantine laws. The provision will protect agriculture from the invasion of foreign species, and make organized smuggling of fruits, plants, and vegetables into the United States a felony. Allowing California to Refine and Grow Sugarcane -- This provision will allow California to join Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida as a state with a sugarcane allocation so that growers in the Imperial Valley will be able to grow, refine, and market sugarcane. Imperial Valley growers have been growing cane for about four years with the hopes they will be able to reinvigorate a stagnant industry in the Brawley area. Growers will be able to add sugarcane to the great diversity of crops from California. Creating An Innovative Crop Insurance Program to California Growers - This provision will allow California growers to qualify for Adjusted Gross Revenue Crop Insurance, a unique risk management tool provided by USDA to give producers a "self-help" option of insuring a potion of their farm income, based upon an average of the last five tax returns. Adjusted Gross Revenue Crop Insurance provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable causes. Currently, specialty crops are not covered by crop insurance, other than catastrophic. The program was first made available on a pilot basis in 1999. The 2001 crop year was the third year the policy was available and it currently includes seventeen states. This will also now include California. # # #